The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), in partnership with the Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) organization, is addressing invasive species growing along roads throughout Oakland County.
Starting this month and running through October, state-licensed contractors will apply herbicide to knotweed and Phragmites along RCOC roadways. On the day of treatment, yellow signs will be posted to indicate what products were used, specific restrictions and when the application took place.
Phragmites grow in wet areas and can reach heights of 15 feet, leading to safety and environmental problems. They form dense stands that block views at intersections, impede water access, impair drainage, damage infrastructure, crowd out habitat, and, if ignited, cause hot, damaging fires.
Knotweed spreads easily when cut and can damage infrastructure, including buildings and roads.
During application, the licensed applicator will apply the treatment from vehicle-mounted hand spray equipment or utilizing a backpack sprayer. The public is advised not to enter treated areas until the spray has dried.
The only effective way to deal with knotweeds and Phragmites is to chemically treat them using a state-licensed commercial applicator.
The contractor that will perform the knotweed treatment is Stantec. Stantec can be contacted with questions about the chemical products used and the application method. Stantec’s address is 8060 Kensington Ct., Brighton, MI 48116. Their phone number is 616-847-1680, and their web address is www.stantec.com.
The contractors listed below will perform the Phragmites treatment and can be contacted with questions about the chemical products used and methods of application:
- PLM Lake and Land Management Corp, 10785 Bennett Drive, Morrice, MI 48857, 800-382-4434, www.plmcorp.net
- Stantec, 8060 Kensington Ct., Brighton, MI 48116. 616-847-1680, www.stantec.com
For a list of CISMA members and supporting partners, visit https://oaklandinvasivespecies.org/current-members/. For more information or questions, contact RCOC by calling (877) 858- 4804 or emailing dcsmail@rcoc.org.
